rubber band ball

one summer day, i went with my parents to an auction. it was a typical iowa farm auction, with lots of boxes of junk piled on flatbed trailers. i looked through them carefully to find hidden treasures, and became fascinated by a rubber band ball that was in a box with other random useless objects.

i told my parents all about my find. being the gregarious child that i was, i also struck up a conversation with an old man at the auction, and i guess while talking, told him about it too. i never actually thought anyone would buy this amazing treasure for me.

when the box with the rubber bands came up for sale, both my father and my new friend decided to bid. not knowing they were both buying it for the same child, they bid each other up to some ridiculous price, before one of them decided to give in.

i don't remember which one came to give me the prized box, and which one came to me in disappointment. i only remember that even at seven, i figured out what happened, and i felt incredibly guilty. i did, however, keep and enjoy the rubber band ball for several years. i even added to it.

Comments

[Kari Kielman]

I was just searching on the google search engine under clarksville iowa and your web site came up. I started reading your remember page and was shocked to see the names from my church that you mentioned. I knew Lee Duell and also know Doris Leeper from the church. Was your father a pastor at Unity? My grandmother has been a member for a very long time. Just wondering who your father is.

Thanks!

Kari Kielman